German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said that Germany will play a "decisive role" in the new agreement between NATO and the US to supply weapons to Ukraine in its fight against the Russian invasion.

US President Donald Trump "took an important step today," Merz said, quoted by AFP.

"President Trump and I have discussed this several times in recent days. I assured him that Germany will play a decisive role," he said.

Trump and NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte announced on July 14 an agreement under which NATO countries will purchase weapons from the US — including Patriot missile defense systems — and then send them to Ukraine.

Rutte said Ukraine would receive a "huge amount" of weapons under the agreement, which aims to appease Trump's long-standing complaints that the US is paying too much for aid to Kiev.

"We are doing this in our own interest," Merz said. He noted that Germany is still working with its partners to "clarify the details" of the plan.

"Only in this way will the pressure on Moscow increase, so that peace negotiations can finally take place. Ultimately, we are showing that we are acting in unison as security partners," he added.

During a visit to Washington, Defense Minister Boris Pistorius said that Germany had offered to buy two Patriot systems under the agreement.

"Germany will continue to play a leading and reliable role in the alliance (NATO)," Pistorius said. | BGNES